25 years of loving construction: Southside Shopping Centre

Wandsworth Arndale Centre became Southside Shopping Centre after a refurbishment

In December 2017, SCS Group celebrated its 25th anniversary. As part of this, we have been publishing a series of case studies looking back at our work over the years. In the last in the series, we look back at Southside Shopping Centre, Wandsworth, where we developed a smoke extract system in the early 2000s.

Southside Shopping Centre opened in 1971 as the Wandsworth Arndale Centre. After nearly three decades, it was given a £30million refurbishment which included the addition of a multi-screen cinema and entertainment complex, new car parking areas and the renewal of retail space.

A high temperature fan is dropped into position

SCS Group – then Smoke Control Services – was called in at the early design stage and worked with the design team to develop a smoke extract system which complied with the Building Regulations and British Standards.

‘Challenging’

Christopher Jones, then a Projects Engineer, remembers the project as “challenging” as the shopping centre had to stay fully open during the construction phase.

We worked closely with Wandworth Borough Council’s Building Control department and in particular, Paul Harris, the Senior Building Control Officer in charge of the project, in order to ensure this complex building was adequately protected.

We were employed by both Gratte Brothers and Interior, the Management Contractors, to implement the solution.

A mimic panel showing a representation of the shopping centre

The final installation featured more than 60 high temperature smoke extract fans with fire-rated ductwork, automatic smoke curtains to provide internal zoning and a comprehensive programmable controls package interfaced with the building management and fire alarm systems for fully automatic operation.

Christopher Jones, then a Projects Engineer, said: “This was a challenging project as the shopping centre had to stay fully open during the construction phase.

“We had to come up with innovative strategies that would maintain active smoke ventilation systems which would protect the shopping centre until the new systems came online.”

Welcome to SCS Group

SCS Group designs and installs smoke control, passive ventilation and building management systems.
We believe in a better way of delivering building engineering services.
Our services include design advice, CFD modelling, installation and maintenance.